Signaling-circuit for fire and police systems



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I SIGNALING- GIRGUIT FOR FIRE AND PQLIGE SYSTEMS.

No. 596,134. .Pa tehted Dec. 28,- 1897.

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No. 596,134. Patented Dec. 28, 1897.

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' ALBERT BARRETT, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSO URI.

SIGNALING-CIRCUIT FOR FIRE AND POLICE'SYSTEMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 596,134, dated December 28, 1897. Application filed September 9, 1897. Serial No. 651,048. (No model.)

To (,LZZ whom-it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT BARRETT, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain Improvements in Signaling-Circuits for Fire and Police Systems, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to police-patrol and fire-alarm systems to be installed in towns and cities where a simple arrangement is desired.

It consists in the arrangement of a plurality of street-boxes with a common circuit which is connected with a central station,such as a police or fire-alarm headquarters or a town or city hall. The street-boxes are so constructed that three kinds of signals can be transmitted from any one of them over the circuit to separate receiving apparatus at the central station as follows: First, emergency calls are transmitted over one wire thereof; second, police calls are transmitted over the second wire, and, third, the two wires are used as a telephonic circuit. A common battery at the central station is employed 'to energize all of the apparatus in all of thecircuits. The street-boxes are provided with iron cases which inclose a circuit-closer for the emergency-circuit, an automatically wound and released clock-train, which actuates a second circuit-closer, and also a break-wheel to send in a characteristic police signal, and telephonic instruments for the conversation-circuit. There is one outer keyhole to the box-door, to which two keys are applied to send in either an emergency or a police call. The emergencycall key is commonly called a citizens key, and when inserted and turned withdraws the bolt of the lock, and in opening the door a circuit over one wire is momentarily closed and a relay at the central station operates to ring a bell and cause the shutter of an annunciator to fall, and the key is trapped in the lock, after which the clock-train is operated and a circuit formed over the second wire by means of the break-wheeland the box-number recorded at the central station. When the box-door is open, the emergency-signal circuit is dissevered and the telephonic circuit is automatically closed,whereupon the citizen can give to the operator at the central station the reason for the callwhether a fire, disturbance, &c. In giving a police call the officer inserts his own keyin the boX,the1ock-bolt is withdrawn, and the clock-train automatically closes a police-signal circuit over the second wire of the main circuit as the break-wheel is rotated, and a second relay at the central station operates to cause a shutter to fall to indicate the circuit and also causes a telegraphic register in a local circuit to register the number of the box upon a paper strip, and when the breakwheel ceases to rotate the telephonic circuit is automatically completed. The citizens key can only be removed from the lock by the officer or some member of the fire department, a keyhole being provided on the inner face of the lock for this purpose. Switches with cords and plugs are provided at the central station, whereby the operator or attendant there may communicate with the person making a boxcall, all of which I will now proceed to describe, and point out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a diagram of a main circuit, in which is shown a plurality of street-boxes and central station; Figs. 2 and 3, front Views of astreet-box, the latter figure showing the door open. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a street-box enlarged, its door being partially open. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are respectively top, edge, and side Views of a door-lock detached, the latter figure showing the cover removed. Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11, and 14 are views of detached parts of the lock, and Figs. 12

- and 13 represent the keys used in opening the box-door to send in a signal.

L is a metallic circuit extending between a plurality of boxes A A A, which are connected thereto by the derived branches 3 and 4, and 5 and 6 are conductors extending from the conductors of circuit L to the central station B. Any other suitable arrangement of connecting-circuits may be employed.

The conductors 5 and 6 extend first to a spring-jack J and then proceed by the wires 17 and 18, respectively, to the relays E and F and connect to ground through the battery S by wire 24. Wires 22 connect the metal frames of the relays with the wire 24. Back contact 19 of the relayE is connected by wire 18 to the register R and to the wire 24. through a portion of the battery S, and back contact induction-coil whose secondary is in connects by wire 21 through hell 6 to the wire 2i to include the same or similar amount of battery S.

C is a pair of plugs connected by cords, the sleeve-cord including battery 50. jack J is in a bridge between the cords.

Springbox is inclosed in an iron casing H, adapted to be fastened to the face of a wallorin any other suitable place or position. The casing is provided with a doorD, hung by hinges g g at its lower edge, so thatit can be opened downward, as shown in Fig. 3.

M on its inner upper edge, and access is ob- It has a lock tained to the box by a key thrust into the keyhole f.

To thcrear wallof the: box is fastened a board 71, on the face of which is secured a clock-train N and telephone-transmitter T,

and hung thereto by a suitable hook is the telephone-receiver t. The receiver is placed in a loop with the secondaryof an inductioncoil, and the transmitter is located in an open branch 7, extending from the point 9 on wire 3 to the stop 0 andis adapted to be included in the main circuit whenthe contactbcloses:

- upon 0.

12 and 13 are spring circuit closers secured at one end by the screw 55 to the insulating piece 53, the springs being separated by the thin insulating-piece 54:. To the under side of the outer end of spring 13 is pivoted a tilting metal piece 16.

The lock M is fastened to the inner face of the door D by bolts which pass through holes 3a in the casing thereof. The lock consists of the bolt 1;, having a notch cut in one side to provide the shoulder 56, and has a guidehole -10, in which plays the pin 39, cast upon the inner side of the case.

V and V are tumblers which rotate on the pin a; and have holes 38, which inclose the pin 39.

41 and 42 are steel springs, one pressing between the bolt 1) and the under tumbler V and the other between the bolt and top tumbler \V, and serve to keep the striker of the bolt pressed outward and also to keep the tumbler pressed against the pin 39. Both tumblers have portions cut away,as 43 and 37. Through the former i3 passes the screw 45%,Wl1i0ll holds the lock-cover on, and the latter, 37, affords space for the turning of the keys.

31 is a movable lever pivoted at 32. Its main part passes under the tumblers, and it is provided with a square projection 33,which bears in the recess 30 of the tumbler 1V and upon the shoulder 56 of the bolt 1;.

z is a movable piece having a projection from its base to the right and a pin 17 extend ing through a hole in the top or edge of the casing andflush with its exterior surface,

and has a spiral spring 18: upon it, oneend of which presses upon the inner rim of the lock, while the opposite end presses against the square portion of and forces it against the abutment 27, which is integral with the rim.

y is a keyhole located upon the inner face :of the lock-casing.

N is a clock-train secured to the board h.

It is provided with a mainspring of low power,

- whichisautomatically wound up when the door D is closed, and isadaptedto rotate the shaft j, upon which is fastened the lever 7t and the circuit-closer b. The Wheel 0 upon the shaftj rotatesthe shaft 57, which carries a break-wheel p, upon the periphery of which are teeth to give, in connection with the pen 10, the signal characteristic of the box.: The circuit-closer b is adapted to make contact with the anvilc, which is secured bythescrcw r to the frame of N.

s is an .escapement.

n isa stud securedto the inside of the door D and adapted to press against the lever nu As is usual in boxes of this kind, two keys are: used,.one-which is termed an emergency or citizens key X, Fig.13, andthe second an oilicers key q, Fig. 12.

:In the operation of the boxsuppose that an emergencysignal is to be sent. in, The key X is inserted in the holefand turned to theright. its upper ward or hit enters the recess 28 of the tumblers, and when turned bears against their shoulders 29, forcing the tumblers to the right until the projection of lever 31 is away from the shoulder 60 of the recess 30 in the tumbler TV, at which time the bit of the key presses against projection 33, forcing it against shoulder 56 of the bolt 1), and about this time the opposite wing or hit of the key strikes the under side of the foot of .2, and as the key is turned farther the bolt '1; is Withdrawn and 2 forced up, so that its pin 17 projects from the face of the lock edge, as shown in dotted lines. Now the door is pulled open, and as it swings out the pin 1.7 strikes the pivoted piece 16 and forces the spring 13 into contact with the spring 12, and as the pin 17 passes outward the piece 16, which has a tilting motion to ease the passage of the pin, resumes its normal position and separates the springs. hen the door is opened, the clock-train is released and the circuit-closer Z) comes into contact with the anvil c and closes the telephone-circuit. A small passage (51 is made in the casing to allow the pin to pass out freely. Then the springs 12 and 13 were momentarily closed, as described, a circuit was established from ground G2 via wire 15, springs 12 and 13, wires 8, 3, l, 6, and 18 to relay F, and by wire 25 and 24 and battery S to ground G, causing the relay-armature to be attracted to its back contact 20 and its shutter to fall.

:As the arm of the armature momentarily closed with the contact 20 a local circuit was.

completed from battery S, wires 24 and 22, metal case of relay F, armature arm and contact 20, and wire 21, and a tap was given by the bell e. The tapping of the bell calls attention to the dropped shutter, whereupon the attendant inserts plug P into jack J and ascertains from the person atthe street-box the nature of the call, the battery 51 energizing both the central-office and the street-box transmitters. The shutter is so marked as to indicate to the operator the circuit the call is coming over. When it is desired to transmit a signal to another central station-say if stat-ion B is a police station and it is desired .to transmit a fire-alarm, or if B is a fire-alarm and it is desired to transmit a police alarmthe plug P of cord b is inserted into jackj and plug P into jack 7' The plug P is inserted into a jack communicating with the second station.

When the emergency-key has operated to open the door D, it is trapped-that is to say, itcannot be withdrawnas shown in Fig. 14. After raising the pin 1'7 and withdrawing the bolt 1: the key is turned back, and in so do-' ing the bit on one side passes into the recess 30 in tumbler W side by side with the projection 33, the spring forces the foot z upon the other bit of the key in the position shown in said figure. The box-door can be closed and locked again as the striker of the bolt 11 remains out from the lock-rim sufficiently for the purpose; but the key can only be removed by turning it again, (in case the door is shut-,) opening the door,and inserting another key say the officers key-into keyhole y and pressin gthe tumblers away, so that the emergencykey can be rotated.

When an officers key is inserted into keyhole 35, its upper bit strikes against the abutments 29 of the tumblers, forcing them away until it strikes the projection 33, which in turn bears against theshoulder 56 of the bolt and withdraws the same from its socket and the door is opened. The key is so cut away that it does not raise the piece 2.

When the door is opened, whether by the citizens or the officers key, the stud 9?. comes away from the lever m and the clock-train is released and causes the break-wheel p to rotate under the pen 10 and send impulses over the conductor 2 to the central office, a circuit being formed-as the teeth of the Wheel strike the pen from ground G wire 15, pen 10, break-wheel, wire 4, conductors 2 and 5, and wire 17 through relay E and by wires 23 24 and battery S to ground G, causing the armature of the relay to drop its shutter and come into contact with the stop 19, whereupon a local circuit is completed from battery S, wires 2-1, 23, and 22, metal frame of relay, contact 19, and wire 18, and causing the register R to impress the telegraphic number of the'street-box on a paper strip. The relayshutter is numbered to indicate the circuit from which the call proceeds. The clocktrain comes to a stop when the arm I) strikes upon the anvil c, and this closes the telephone-circuit, as will be readily seen. When the door is closed, the stud n strikes the lever m, which forces the rotatinglever la and the circuit-closer 1) into the position shown by the dotted lines, thus winding up the clock-train and opening the telephone-circuit.

It will 'be seen that when a plug P is inserted in spring-jack J and the operatorstelephone apparatus Y in circuit the emergency-relay F iscut out of circuit, and if an emergency call should come in over this particular circuit the operators telephone is right in the circuit to receive it.

The object of the emergency-signal is to inform the operator when busy with one circuit and other calls come in on other circuits, which are emergency calls, and so to give such calls the preference, as for regular pomain circuit and through the earth to the central station; and second, means for intermittently closing and opening a circuit over the second conductor of the main-line circuit and through the earth to the central station; and third, means for closing the said two conductors to include telephones; with signal-receivers at'the central station in circuit with the first conductor consisting of visual and audible instruments, and signal-receivers in circuit with the second conductor consisting of visual and recording instruments, and means for connecting telephonic instruments between the said two conductors.

2. The combination in a fire-alarm and police-signal system of a metallic circuit extending through a plurality of street-boxes and terminating in a central station, both conductors of the said circuit being normally open in each box; each box consisting of a casing with a door hinged thereto adapted to swing outwardly, provided With a lock having a circuit-closing pin, and circuit-closing springs in the path of said pin, a clock-train adapted to be wound by the closure of said door, and to be released by the opening of the same to serially rotate a break-wheel and to operate a circuit-closer, and telephone instruments; signal-receivers at the central station in circuit with one conductor of said main circuit consisting of visible and audible instruments,

and signal-receivers in circuit with the second conductor consisting of visible and recording instruments, with means for connecting telephones between the said two conductors; whereby when a box-door is opened a circuit is closed over the first conductor and the signal-receivers included therein operated, and secondly a circuit is closed over the second conductor and the said signal-receivers located therein operated, and finally the metallic circuit is closed including the telephones in the box.

3. The combination in a common-battery signaling system of a metallic circuit extending through a plurality of substations or street-boxes and terminating in a central station, both conductors of the said circuit being normally open in each box; means at each box for first, momentarily closing a circuit over one conductor of the main circuit and through the earth to the central station, and second, means for intermittently closing and opening a circuit over the second conductor of the main circuit and through the earth to the central station, and third, means for closing the said metallic circuit to include telephones; signal-receivers at the central station in circuit with the first conductor consisting of a relay-annunciator adapted to operate a bell, and signal-receivers in circuit with the second conductor consisting of a relay-annunciator adapted to operate a register; a battery common to both conductor-circuits; with means for connecting telephonic instruments between the said two conductors consisting of a plug-socket having open terminals from each of said conductors, and a plug whose cords include telephones.

4. The combination in a common-battery fire-alarm and police system of a main metallic circuit, a plurality of street-boxes, a common battery, and a central station; each street-box consisting of a casing with an outwardly-swinging door hinged thereto provided with a lock having a circuit-closing pin, each lock being provided with citizens keys and officers keys, circuit-closing springs in the path of said pin, a clock-train adapted to be wound by the closure of said door, and to be released by the opening of the same to operate a circuit-closer, with telephones; separate signal-receivers at the central station in circuit with each conductor of said main circuit, and means for connecting telephone instruments between the said conductors; whereby upon the insertion of a citizens key into said lock and the opening of the door the key is trapped and a circuit is momentarily closed over one conductor of the said circuit as the said pin passes the said springs and a signal-receiver operated at the central station, the said clock-train released, the circuit-closer operated and the telephones in the box included in a metallic circuit.

5. The combination in a common-battery fire-alarm and police system of a main metallic circuit, a plurality of street-boxes, a common battery, and a central station; each street-box consisting of a casing with an outwardly-swinging door hinged thereto pro vided with a lock having a circuit-closin g pin, each lock being provided with citizens keys and officers keys, circuit-closing springs in the path of said pin, a clock-train adapted to be wound by the closure of said door and to be released by the opening of the same to serially rotate a break-wheel and operate a circuit-closer, with telephones; a separate signal-receiver at the central station in circuit with each conductor of said main circuit, and means for connecting telephones between the said conductors; whereby upon the insertion of an oi'licers key into said lock and the opening of the door a circuit is closed over one conductor of the said circuit by the releasement and rotation of said break-wheel and a signal-receiver operated at the central station, the circuit-closer operated and the telephones in the box included in a metallic circuit.

6. The combination in a fire-alarm and p0- lice-signal box of a casin g; with a door hinged to the same adapted to swing outwardly and provided with a lock, having a concealed cir cuit-closing pin; circuitclosing springs in the path of said pin; a clock-train adapted to be wound by the closure of the door and to be released by the opening of the same to serially rotate a break-Wheel, and to operate a circuit-closer; and telephone instruments; all connected as described, and operating as set forth.

7. The combination in a common-battery fire-alarm and police system of a main metallic circuit, a plurality of street-boxes, a common battery and a central station; each streetbox consisting of a casin g with an outwardlyswinging door hinged thereto provided with a lock having a circuit-closing pin, each lock being provided with citizens keys and 0thcers keys, circuit-closing springs in the path of said pin, a clock-train adapted to be wound by the closure of said door and to be released by the opening of the same to serially rotate a break-Wheel and to operate a circuit-closer, with telephones; separate signal-receivers at the central station in circuit with each conductor of said main circuit, and means for connecting telephone instruments between the said conductors; whereby upon the insertion of a key into said lock, and the opening of the door an emergency-signaling circuit is established over one wire of the main circuit, or a police-signaling circuit is established over the second conductor of the main circuit, at will, and a conversation-circuit is afterward established over the two conductors of the said main circuit automatically.

8. The combination in a common-battery fire-alarm and police system of a main metallic circuit, a plurality of street-boxes, a common battery, and a central station; each street-box consisting of a casing with an outwardly-swinging door hinged thereto provided with a lock having a circuit-closing pin, each lock being provided with citizens keys and officers keys, circuit-closing springs in the path of said pin, a clock-train adapted to be wound by the closure of said door and to be released by the opening of the same to serially rotate a break-wheel and to operate a circuit-closer, with telephones; separate signal-receivers at the central station in circuit with each conductor of said main circuit, and means for connecting telephones between said conductors; whereby either of two independent signaling-circuits maybe selectively established between any street-box and the central station and characteristic signals automatically transmitted from the box to the central station, and a conversation-circuit established over the two conductors of the said main circuit.

9. The combination in a common-battery signaling system of a metallic circuit extending through a plurality of substations or street-boxes and terminating in a central station, both conductors of the said circuit being normally open in each box; means at each box for, first, momentarily closing a circuit over one conductor of the main circuit and through the earth to the central office, and second, means for intermittently closing and opening a circuit over the second conductor of the main circuit and through the earth to the central station, and third, means for closing the said metallic circuit to include telephones; signal-receivers atthe central stationin circuit with the first conductor consisting of a relay-annunciator adapted to operate a bell, and signal-receivers in circuit with the second conductor consisting of a relay-annunciator adapted to operate a register; a battery common to both conductor-circuits; with means for connecting telephonic instruments between the said two conductors consisting of a plug-socket having open terminals from each of said conductors and a plug whose cords include telephones; whereby when the telephones at a box and at the central station are in the metallic circuit, the emergency signals from other boxes in the circuit are received in the central-station telephone.

10. The combination in a common-battery fire-alarm and police system of a main nictallic circuit, a plurality of street-boxes, a common battery, and a central station; each street-box consisting of a casingwith an outwardlyswinging door hinged thereto provided with a lock having a circuit-closing pin each lock being provided with citizens keys and officers? keys, circuit-closing springs in the path of said pin, a clock-train adapted to be wound by the closure of said door and to be released by the opening of the same to operate a circuit-closer, with telephones; separate signal-receivers at the central station in circuit with each conductor of said main circuit, and means for connecting telephone instruments between the said conductors; whereby upon the insertion of a citizens key into said lock and the opening of the door the key is trapped and a circuit is momentarily closed over one conductor of the said circuit as the said pin passes the said springs and a signal-receiver operated at the central station, the said clock-train released and a circuit intermittently closed over the second conductor and the box-number recorded, the circuit-closer operated and the telephones in the box included in a metallic circuit.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 24th day of August, 1897.

ALBERT BARRETT.

I YVitnesses:

S. O. PETTIT, EDWARD F. WEBSTER. 

